Dan Hentschel

Hentschel was raised in Harford County, Maryland.{{cite web |last1=Hentschel |first1=Dan |title=Yes, My School Shooter Joke Actually Got Me In Legal Trouble |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96WkwPpmCjM&t=1535shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96WkwPpmCjM&t=1535s |website=YouTube |access-date=14 February 2025 |location=25:30 |date=13 February 2025}} He attended The John Carroll School. Hentschel won the first prize at the Baltimore High School Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=Dan Hentschel, '14, captures 1st place in film festival {{!}} The John Carroll School |url=https://archive.johncarroll.org/about/news/dan-hentschel-14-captures-1st-place-film-festival |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=archive.johncarroll.org}} He received a major in Dramatic Writing at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Georgia.{{Cite web |last=Dembling |first=Ian |date=2018-03-09 |title=Free tickets available for live taping of SCAD's newest sitcom |url=https://fox28savannah.com/news/local/free-tickets-available-for-live-taping-scads-newest-sitcom |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=WTGS |language=en}}

Hentschel first began working as a stand-up comedian in 2017 during his studies at SCAD, performing in two talent shows and becoming the Vice President of the college's stand-up comedy club.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-14 |title=Joking Around With Dan Hentschel – SCAD Radio |url=https://scadradio.org/2018/04/14/joking-around-with-dan-hentschel/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |language=en-US}}

In 2022, Hentschel gained widespread attention when he posted a series of videos to TikTok with satirical relationship advice. In October, he claimed that he had found a "genius" method to detect if a significant other still has romantic feelings for their ex. He then proposed that viewers should photoshop the ex out of an old photo and see if their partner notices. The video was then posted by outlets such as New York Post, which shared the advice to their Sex and Relationships column and discussed the pros and cons.{{Cite web |last=Lefroy |first=Emily |date=2022-10-11 |title='Genius' trick to find out if your partner has feelings for ex |url=https://nypost.com/2022/10/11/genius-trick-to-find-out-if-your-partner-has-feelings-for-ex/ |work=New York Post |access-date=2024-12-04 |language=en-US}}

In December 2022, Vice reported that the idea of "quiet quitting" a relationship could be attributed to Hentschel, after he uploaded a video where he pretended to be a psychiatrist and gave satirical relationship advice.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=How to Know If Your Partner is 'Quiet Quitting' Your Relationship |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/relationships-dating-breaking-up-quiet-quitting-dumping/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=Here's how to tell if you or your partner are 'quiet quitting' your relationship |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/the-sunday-hook-up/quiet-quitting-in-relationships-article/101638576 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=triple j |language=en-AU}}

In June 2023, Hentschel posted a series of videos on TikTok where he convinced viewers he had put salt in his partner's water in order to dehydrate her. The videos showed Hentschel in various costumes as he claimed to put bacon grease in his partner's beauty products. The storyline led to her being hospitalized for poisoning and dying. The joke was an elaborate parody that involved a fake mugshot photo of Hentschel, a fake New York Post article and doctored security footage. After changing his TikTok profile to appear as a true crime news outlet, Hentschel was able to fool viewers into thinking the story was real, including fans who did not know it was his TikTok account.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-26 |title=Satirical TikToker uses common true crime video tactics to trick viewers into thinking he got arrested for poisoning his girlfriend: 'That feels illegal' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/satirical-tiktoker-uses-common-true-crime-video-tactics-to-trick-viewers-into-thinking-he-got-arrested-for-poisoning-his-girlfriend-that-feels-illegal-204041591.html |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Yahoo Life |language=en-US}}

In August 2024, Hentschel claimed to have taken his girlfriend on a road trip across the United States, with the road layout spelling the words "Will You Marry Me". He followed up by implying that at the end of the road trip, his girlfriend had broken up with him; the fake story immediately caught the attention of some news outlets.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-17 |title=Road Trip That Spelled Out 'Will You Marry Me' on US Map Ends in Breakup |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/road-trip-that-spelled-out-will-you-marry-me-on-us-map-ends-in-breakup-article-112580510 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Times Now |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-17 |title=Man on road trip spelled 'will you marry me?' on map, realises they 'a good fit for each other' |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/wtf/man-spelled-will-you-marry-me-on-map-through-a-road-trip-640049.html |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=India Times |language=en-IN}}{{Cite web |author=DC Web Desk |date=2024-08-18 |title=American health content creator makes marriage proposal unique using GPS technology |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/americas/american-health-content-creator-makes-marriage-proposal-unique-using-gps-technology-1817358 |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}

In January 2025, Hentschel posted a video on social media where he stood on the campus of The John Carroll School, his former school. In the video, he jokes he was "almost a school shooter" in 2013 and described memories of wanting to fire an AK-47 into the bleachers during a sophomore homecoming game.{{Cite web |last=Olaniran |first=Christian |date=2025-01-07 |title=Police investigate threat after viral social media video filmed at Maryland high school - CBS Baltimore |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-high-school-shooting-threat-viral-video/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Brennan |first=Stewart |date=2025-01-06 |title=Police in Maryland investigate influencer's video discussing purported 2013 school shooting plans |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/national/police-in-maryland-investigate-influencer-s-video-discussing-purported-2013-school-shooting-plans/article_1f309414-1dff-5325-8844-b729adc0a20e.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250128071656/https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/national/police-in-maryland-investigate-influencer-s-video-discussing-purported-2013-school-shooting-plans/article_1f309414-1dff-5325-8844-b729adc0a20e.html |archive-date=2025-01-28 |access-date=2025-02-08 |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin |language=en}} The video caught the attention of administrative staff at The John Carroll School, who identified Hentschel and alerted authorities on January 4. Later that month, the Bel Air Police Department launched a criminal investigation into Hentschel, releasing a statement on Facebook in which they called the video "disturbing". Despite assuring the public that Hentschel and his immediate family did not have access to firearms, Hentschel faced a trespassing charge.{{Cite web |last=Griffith |first=Kristen |date=2025-01-07 |title=Influencer investigated for 'disturbing' post about Harford County school |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/daniel-hentschel-harford-john-carroll-school-QBWVD7HENJEBDPMHVAVLOYN57Q/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=The Baltimore Banner |language=en}}

Hentschel claims that his videos are "a place that's between satire and truth" and admits that "an accidental byproduct" of his videos have been "how outrageous [he can] make the premise", with viewers openly relating to his satirical behavior.{{Cite web |last=Cavender |first=Elena |date=2022-10-20 |title=How Gen Z is using TikTok to learn about social etiquette |url=https://mashable.com/article/tiktok-rules-trend-etiquette-guides |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Mashable |language=en}}

Often, Hentschel's videos are filmed in his car with his camera propped up on his dashboard, some of which are up to 90 minutes in length.{{Cite magazine |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |date=2024-08-20 |title=Why Creators Have Stopped Editing Their Content |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/tiktok-youtube-editing-trend-1235078174/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} He believes that viewers enjoy his content because it feels "spontaneous" and realistic. Due to the fact he does not edit his videos, Hentschel believes it "feels like somebody who's just talking to you", which adds to the realism of the satire and sympathetic approach to some of his characters.

Hentschel has stated that his comedic inspirations have included John Mulaney, Amy Schumer, Michelle Wolf and Mike Birbiglia. He also mentioned that he used to be a fan of Louis C.K., but disavowed him due to his sexual misconduct.

Hentschel is known for creating caricatures of himself and other original characters. He has impersonated multiple professions, most notably a disgruntled therapist who documented his hatred for patients and their issues. He has also played the role of a teacher going through a mental breakdown, a judge handing out life sentences to avoid missing lunch,{{Cite web |date=2023-10-06 |title=The Disturbing Truth Behind Comedian's Bit About 'Hangry' Judges Giving Harsher Sentences |url=https://www.yourtango.com/entertainment/disturbing-truth-behind-hangry-judge-giving-harsher-sentences |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=YourTango |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-10 |title=Comedian jokes judges' rulings are harsher when they're 'hangry.' A study surprisingly backs him up. |url=https://scoop.upworthy.com/comedian-jokes-judges-rulings-are-harsher-when-theyre-hangry-a-study-surprisingly-backs-him-up |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=scoop.upworthy.com |language=en}} and a priest.{{Cite news |last=Miles |first=Ruby |date=2024-11-27 |title=Ruby Miles: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/nov/28/ruby-miles-laneway-festival-2025-tour |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Plunkett |first=John |date=2023-09-19 |title=This joke was already good but the comeback made it even better |url=https://www.thepoke.com/2023/09/19/this-joke-was-already-good-but-the-comeback-made-it-even-better/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=The Poke}} Common themes throughout Hentschel's videos involve disgruntled employees, anti-establishment influencers, characters recounting themselves committing a crime such as murder, and characters suffering mental crises. Most characters are caricatures of Hentschel himself. He often wears face paint or over-the-top costumes to gain viewer attention.

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Category:Comedians from California

Category:American social media influencers

Category:American male comedians

Category:American satirists

Category:American TikTokers

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Internet memes

Category:Internet memes introduced in 2025